The National Music Publishers Association and Nashville Songwriters Association International have submitted a new rate proposal to the Copyright Royalty Board.

For digital licensing, the NMPA/NSAI are proposing a “three-pronged” formula to determine mechanical rates, with the enacted prong being whichever formula results in the most revenue at the end of each month. The two organizations are still petitioning the Copyright Royalty Board to eliminate Sony Music’s competing proposal from consideration in the rate-setting process.

• RSP has broken ties with RAO, the Russian collection society, following fraud claims against the society. RAO’s general director Sergei Fedotov is in custody over allegations that he funneled $7.7 million out of the organization in a series of dubious real estate deals, though a spokesman for RAO states that the company maintains there are no grounds for the accusations. Since 2011, RSP has transferred to RAO over 1.3 billion rubles ($20 million) earmarked for rights holders and paid RAO a commission of 6.5 million rubles ($100,000).

ADVERTISE Hypebot & MusicThinkTank

With the internet and digital technologies driving rapid change within the music industry, articles about new releases and who has been hired and fired are no longer enough. Our up to the minute industry news alongside insightful commentary helps our readers sift through the rumors and developments to find the information they need to keep their businesses moving forward.

Hypebot is read daily by more than 30,000 music industry professionals including executives and senior staff of music related tech firms, internet based music sites, every major label group and most indies as well as many managers, artists and members of the live music community: